Roll unwind stand



April 6, 1965 1.. J- SAUNDERS ROLL UNWIND STAND 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 23, 1962 N mw imm April 6, 1965 J. SAUNDERS RQLL UNWIND STAND Filed Jan. 23, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ril 6, 1965 1.. J. SAUNDERS 3,

- ROLL UNWIND STAND Filed Jan. 23, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 z era-.5.

INVENTOR. LAM/FENCE J 0104 051:

BY flkrreuavk, 59522, $995 {finely April 6, 1965 J. SAUNDERS ROLL unwmn sum:

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 23, 1962 IN VENTOR. Zia 15AM! J. JWu/wmfir United States Patent The present invention relates to roll unwind stands utilized in connection with apparatus for producing corrugated boardand more particularly to a mill roll unwind stand having novel means for positioning and rotatively supporting a mill roll of heavy kraft paper.

Mill roll stands of the. prior .art have been constructed in a manner such that two or more men were usually required to maneuver a mill roll into place on the stand. Further, it was often necessary to utilize expensive and bulky auxiliary equipment such ashoists or fork lifts to position the mill roll on the stand.

The instant invention provides a novel construction forv a mill roll unwind stand which requires but a single operator for both loading and unloading. This is accomplished by providing a device having parallel spaced movable chains each carrying attachments for engagement with individual carrier blocks. The blocks are constructed to engage .the shaft of the mill roll and provide a rotatable support therefor.

Frame supports having means defining parallel spaced guide tracks are provided. The carrier blocks when en- 7 gaged by the chain carrier attachments move along the Q guide tracks to be supported and directed thereby.

Each guide track includes a raised, generally horizontal central portion with downwardly inclined portions atthe .ends of the horizontal portion. Initially, the carrier blocks are placed in cradles at the lower ends of one of the ,inclinedsections. As the conveyor chain is operated, an I attachment carried thereby engages the carrier block moving it upward along the first inclined section of track as V the carrier block moves upward along this first section.

An extending portion of the carrier block engagesthe mill roll shaft which has been moved into operative position adjacent to the stand. The extending portion is so inclined that it exerts a component of force which. drives the mill roll toward a bearing depression in the carrier Iblock. When the shaft is disposed in this depression the upward movement of the carrier block causes the mill roll to be lifted. This operation occurs simultaneously for carrier blocks on both guide tracks.

When the carrier blocks are at the desired location of the horizontal tract section, the conveyor chains are stopped. Now the mill roll is roughly in its operative position with respect to the corrugating machine. Thereafter the axial position of the mill roll shaft is adjusted.

Unloading is accomplished by operating the conveyor chain to move the carrier blocks downward along the other inclined track sections. If a roll of substantial size is being unloaded, when this roll rests upon the floor or 1 other supporting means with continued downward movement of the carrier blocks, because the extending portions thereof are so oriented, a component of force will be exerted to drive the mill roll away from the unwind stand. .lfa butt (mill roll of small diameter) is being unloaded, an attachment is provided which engages the mill roll shaft ends for supporting the butt ate convenient height for removal of the shaft.

. Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide a mill roll unwind stand of novel construction V which is operable by a single person for both loading and unloading.

Anotherobject is to provide a mill roll unwind stand constructed in such a manner that the utilization of auxil- 3,176,928 Patented Apr. 6, 1965 iary equipment for loading and unloading is reduced to aminimum.

Still another object is to provide a mill roll unwind stand in which the mill roll, once engaged by the stand mechanism, is positively made to move parallel to the position of the mill roll shaft so that the possibility of locking and binding can substantially be eliminated.

A further object is to provide a novel construction for a mill roll stand whereby successive splices may be-rnade top or bottom as desired without being restricted to all top or all. bottom splices or alternate top and bottom splices. l

A still further object is to provide a novel construction for a mill roll stand which includes loading hooks for moving the mill roll into operative position close to the stand from a position a substantial distance fromthe stand.

These as well as other objects of this invention shall become readily apparent after reading the following description of the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of a mill roll unwind stand constructed in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the mill roll stand of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-section taken through line 33 of FIGURE 2 looking in the directions of the arrows FIGURE 4 is a cross-section taken along line 44 through one of the frame sections looking in the direction of arrows 44; t

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of one of the carrier blocks.

FIGURE 6 is a cross section taken through line 66 of FIGURE 5 looking in the direction of arrows 6-6;

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the carrier block of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a cross section taken through line 8-8 of FIGURE 5 looking in the direction of arrows 3 8.

FIGURES 9-11 are side elevations of the mill roll stand of FIGURES 1-8 showing the positions of the carrier blocks at various stages of the loading and unloading operations. ,In FIGURE 9 the carrier block is shown as it is about to engage the shaft of the new mill roll. In FIGURE 10 the new mill roll has just reached the upper horizontal path through which it will move. In FIGURE 11 the new mill roll is at an intermediate position along its horizontal path and the old mill roll is at the position where the carrier block extension will force the mill roll shaft away from. the mill roll stand. i Y

FIGURE 12 is a side. elevation illustrating a loading. hook in cooperation with the mill roll stand and the shaft of a mill roll to be loaded.

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary plan view of the conveyor chain showing the carrier block engaging rollers.

Now referring to the figures. The mill roll unwind stand of this invention, generally referred to by reference number 20, includes vertical parallel spaced frame sections 21 and 22. Drive shaft 23 extends between supports 2-1 and 22. Keyed to shaft 23 is drive sprocket '24 driven by sprocket 25 through chainv 26. The drive for sprocket 25 is received from motor 27. Also keyed to drive shaft 23'are sprockets 28 and 29 positioned between the spaced walls forming frame sections 21 and'22, respectively.

Each of the frame sections 21 and 22 is provided with an individual conveyor chain and attachments which engage individual carrier blocksSti in a manner to: be fully explained. Thus, for the sake of eliminating repetition,

I the construction of only one of the frame supports 21 and 2.2 and the elements carried thereby would be deare inwardly turned along edges 42 thereof. turned edges 42 in conjunction with hardened steel memscribed. It is to be understood that the other frame support is of substantially identical construction and carries substantially identical elements. I

Frame section 21 carries stationary idler sprockets 31- 34 as well as arm 36 which carries adjustable sprocket 35.

' One end of arm 35 ispivotally mounted at 37, and the.

other end thereof is provided with means 38 for adjusting the position of sprocket 35.

Sprockets 28 and 31-35 define the path of endless con- .veyor chain 40. This path includes a generally horizontal raised section ifta'and sections 4% and itle which areinclined downwardly in opposite directions away from the ends of horizontal section 4041.

Frame section 21 carries structural members 41 which bers 43, which extend parallel to 'edges'42, form a guide track which extends parallel to chain sections ilaitlc with chain 40 being positioned between the guide track sections as will be hereinafter fully explained. Guide tracks 42, 43 position and support carrier blocks 59 which are moved to operative position byattachrnents 73- 76 carried by conveyor chain40.

As best seen in FIGURES through 8, carrier block 50 is a'cast member formed with parallel spaced side sections 51, 52 connected by integrally formed webbing 53. Each of the side sections 51, 52 is provided with a circular depression 54. Bearing 55 extends between sections 51 and 52 and is seated within depression 54 being wardly of stand 29 so that shafted will be engaged by extension sion 58.

Two outboard rollers 62, 63, mounted to stub shafts 64a and 68a, respectively, extend from side section 51 while outboard rollers 66, 67 on stub shafts 64b and 68b,

57 which will guide shaft 60 into bearing depresrespectively, are mounted outboard of side section 52. As

seen in FIGURE 3, the outboard rollers of carrier block 50 are disposed between the guide track sections 42, 43

Walls 51, 52 are each provided with inward extensions forming a recess, two opposed walls of which are I lined with bearing plates 71, 72 with plates 72 being longer than plates '71. Chain 40 is constructed in a manner such that longitudinally spaced intervals the ordinarily narrow links are replaced by heavier links 73, 74 (FIGURE 13) which carry outboard stub shaft mounted rollers 75, '76, respectively. As Will be more fully explained, chain carrier rollers 75, 76 are entered into the recessive between bearing plates 71 and 72 and when so entered provide an attachment between carrier block 50 and conveyor chain 40.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, the rearward inclined track section is provided with spacer member 78 which extends,

' for the most part, parallel to the rearward inclined guide size-mill roll, is supported by extension 57. The top 79 inwardly of spacer 78 is gradually sloped forward and upward so 7 e that shaft 69 will slowly enter bearing depression 58.

- As seen in FIGURE 12, loading hook 80 is provided to draw'the mill roll into position for engagement by blocks 50. Hook 8!) includes an approximately straight central section 81-having a bent re-entrant portion 82 at one end and another bent portion 83 at theother end. Portions 82 and 83 lie in the same plane and on the same side of 7 ends thereof.

central portion 81. The angle between portions $1 and 83 is less than for a reason which will become apparent.

In operation, a block 56 is placed at the rear, lower end of each of the tracks with rollers s2 and 65 resting against stops 85. Conveyor chainsflt) are then caused to move in a clockwisedirection with respect to FIGURE 1 with rollers 75 and 75 carried by chains 4%? engaging plates '72 so as to be guided into depressions of blocks Stlbetween plates 71 and 72; Continued movement of chains 4t? moves-conveyors 50 upward along the rear section of track until they reach the approximate position shown in FIGURE 12.

Chains 40 are then stopped and loading hooks 80 are placed onopposite ends of shaft 60 with end. 83 engaging shaft 69 and end 82 engaging rod 86 which extends between sections 51 and 52 of block 50. Chains 40 are then operated to move blocks 50 forward. As blocks 50 move forward, loading books 80 move the mill roll forward to a point where shaft 60 rebutts spacer meanbers 78. End '83 is so inclined that continued move- 1 merit of block 56 in a forward direction will not cause any dam-agebut will only lift end 83 off of shaft 60. Chains 40 \are then stopped and additional blocks 50 are placed against stops 85. Chains 40 are again moved in a clockwise direction raising the newly introduced blocks 5% in the manner previously described.

As blocks 50 move along the rear section of track the portion of extension 57 projecting rearward of spacer conveyer chains 40 are halted. Thereafter, the brake. and

positioning mechanism 90,;Well knownto the art, is manipulated to move shaft 60 in an axial direction to its operative position.

Unloading of the mill roll is accomplished lay-moving conveyer chains 40 clockwise so that blocks 50 move for= wardly down the forward section of track. In the absence of stripping mechanism the mill roll which has not been used will come to rest upon the ground or a skid forward of mill roll stand 20. Upon engagement of the mill roll with the ground, block extension 57 is so posi tioned that it exerts a component of force in a forward direction against shaft 60 thereby. moving the mill roll forward of stand 29. Block 50 continues to move downwardly and at the point where chain 40 moves toward the left around sprocket 34, chain rollers 75, 76 leave the block recesses between plates 71, 72 and block 50' is deposited rat the lower end 97 of the forward track sectionwand is automatically discharged. V

For the unloading of spent rolls or small rolls, known as butts, stripping device is provided. Device 100 comprises generally horizontal arms 101 mounted to each of the frame sections 21 and 22. Members 101 are provided with upwardly extending stops 102 at the forward The rear ends of members 101 are slidably supported on the respective frame sections 21, 22 in a manner such that when stripping mechanism 1% is not being used itpcan be moved rearward to the dotted line position of FIGURE 2.

In the solid line position of FIGURE 1 stripping mech anism ltli) is extended so that it lies in the path of shaft 60 as the mill roll is being moved downthe forward blocks 56.

As seen in FIGURES 9-11, loading (it one mill mu 110 may take place while a previously loaded mill roll 111 is being used or unloaded. That is, with mill roll 111 operatively positioned in FIGURE 9 by being mounted to blocks a, blocks 50b are placed against stops 85. Chain 40 is then operated in a clockwise direction moving roll 111 forward and at the same time moving roll 110 up the rear section of hack. As shown in FIGURE 10, both of the rolls 110 and 111 may be supported on the raised section of track at the same time. With continued movement of chains 40 roll 111 descends the forward track section while roll 116 is moving forward on the raised track section to operative position.

It is noted that the chains 40 mounted to each of the frame sections 21 and 22 are positioned in a manner such that the rollers 75, 76 engage the blocks mounted to the respective frame sections 21, 22 at the same time and move these blocks along the track at equal speed. In this manner movement of the mill rol-l shaft always occurs in :a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft so that binding is prevented.

Thus, it is seen that this invention provides a mill roll stand construction which enables a single operator to readily load and unload mill rolls without the necessity of expensive auxiliary equipment. Further, it is noted that the positions of members 97 and stops may be reversed and the spacer 78 move to the forward track section. With the elements so arranged and the first corrugator feed rolls located to the rear of mill roll stand 20 successive top splices can be made. On the other hand, with the elements 97, 85 and 78 in the positions illustrated in the drawings, successive bottom splices can be made.

Although I have described preferred embodiments of my novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, and I prefer therefore to be limited not by the specific disclosure herein but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising first and second side structures positioned in parallel spaced relationship; first means carried by each of said structures defining an individual track; each of said tracks including a. longitudinally extending raised generally horizontal first =linear section, a second and a third linear section at the rear and front ends, respectively, of said first section; said second section being inclined downward and rearward from said rear end; said third section being inclined downward and forward from said front end; a first and a second conveyor for said first and said second structures, respectively; said conveyors each including movable portions guided parallel by said first, said second, and said third track sections; and a second means for operating said conveyors in unison.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the second and third track sections have substantially equal angles of inclination.

-3. The device of claim I also comprising a first and a second carrier block in operative engagement with said first and said second conveyor, respectively, for movement of said first and said second blocks along the track of said first and said second structures, respectively; each of said blocks including means defining a shaft seating depression.

4. The device of claim 3 in which each of the blocks also includes means defining an extension projecting from said depression; said extension, upon upward movement of said blocks along said second sections of track, being oriented to direct a force component in a forward direction and toward said depression.

5. The device of claim 4 in which said extension, upon downward movement of said blocks along said third sections of track, being oriented to direct a force component in a forward direction away from said depression.

6. The device of claim 3 in which each of said conveyors comprises an endless chain, a plurality of block 6 engaging attachments carried by each of said chains and disposed at discrete positions along the lengths of the chains.

7. The device of claim 6 in which each of said blocks comprises a recess means and each of said attachments comprises roller means; each of .said recess means having one of said roller means disposed therein.

8. The device of claim 7 in which there is a pickup station at the lower end of each of said second sections of track; said pickup station including means for positioning a block for operative engagement'by a chain attachment.

9. The device of claim 8 in which there is a receiving station at the lower end of each of said third sections of track; said receiving station including means for positioning a block for disengagement of a chain attachment.

10. The device of claim 3 further comprising a stripping device including retractable arms mounted to said side structures; said arms being movable from a first posi tion rearward of said third section to a second position forward of said third section; said arms when in said second position being disposed in the path of a shaft carried by said blocks in said depressions as said blocks descend said third sections.

11. The device of claim 10 in which each of the blocks also includes means defining an extension projecting from said depression; said extension, upon upward movement of said blocks along said second sections of track, being oriented to direct a force component in a forward direction and toward said depression; said extension, upon downward movement of said blocks along said third sections of track, being oriented to direct a force component in a forward direction away from said depression.

12. The device of claim 3 also comprising, for each of said side structures, a spacer having a major portion positioned rearward of and extending parallel to said second section, said extension extending rearwardly of said spacer when said block is at a central portion of said track.

13. The device of claim 12 in which the upper end portion of said spacer is inclined upward and forward at a lesser angle than the incline of said major portion.

14. The device of claim 3 also comprising, for each of said carrier, a loading hook having a first end section in operative engagement with its associated said block, a second end section adapted to engage a mill roll shaft, and a connecting section joining said end sections, said end sections and said connecting sections lying in a single plane with an angle of greater than degrees between said second end section and said connecting sections.

15. The device of claim 14 in which the first end section is reversed on said connecting section to overlap a portion thereof; both of said end sections being positioned on the same side of said connecting section.

16. The device of claim 3 also comprisinng a stripping means includinga member individual to each of said side structures and movable between a first and a second position; said members when in said first position being rearward of said third section; said members when in said second position extending forward of said third section and operatively positioned in the path of a mill roll shaft descending said third section whereby this shaft is supported by said members as said blocks move below said stripping means.

17. The device of claim 1 also comprising a first and a second carrier block in operative engagement with said first and said second conveyor, respectively, for movement of said first and said second blocks along said tracks of said first and said second structures, respectively; said device further including a first and a second loading hook; each of said hooks comprising an elongated connecting hook section; a first hook section and a second hook section at opposite ends of said connecting hook section; said first and said second hook sections extending below said connecting hook section; said hook sections lying in a single plane with an angle of greater than 90 degrees between said first and said connecting hook sections; said second hook section having a portion overlapping said connecting hook section; said second book sections of said first and said second loading hooks in operative engagement with said first and said second blocks, respectively, whereby movement of said blocks causes movement of said loading hooks.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,339,460 5/20 Langston 242-586 Best 4084 Schmidt 242-58.2 Vickery 242-58.6

Cline 242-58.2

Hicks -h 24258.6 X

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

LYLAND M. MARTIN, Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND SIDE STRUCTURES POSITIONED IN PARALLEL SPACED RELATIONSHIP; FIRST MEANS CARRIED BY EACH OF SAID STRUCTURES DEFINING AN INDIVIDUAL TRACK; EACH OF SAID TRACKS INCLUDING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RAISED GENERALLY HORIZONTAL FIRST LINEAR SECTION, A SECOND AND A THIRD LINEAR SECTION AT THE REAR AND FRONT ENDS, RESPECTIVELY, OF SAID FIRST SECTION; SAID SECOND SECTION BEING INCLINED DOWNWARD AND REARWARD FROM SAID REAR END; SAID THIRD SECTION BEING INCLINED DOWNWARD AND FORWARD FROM SAID FRONT END; A FIRST AND A SECOND CONVEYOR FOR SAID FIRST AND SAID SECOND STRUCTURES, RESPECTIVELY; SAID CONVEYORS EACH INCLUDING MOVABLE PORTIONS GUIDED PARALLEL BY SAID FIRST, SAID SECOND, AND SAID THIRD TRACK SECTIONS; AND A SECOND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID CONVEYORS IN UNISON. 